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Horm Metab Res 2019; 51(12): 798-804
DOI: 10.1055/a-1036-6396
Endocrine Care

Cortisol Levels in Glucagon Stimulation Test in Children Assessed for Short Stature: Clinical and Laboratorial Correlations

Authors

  • Olga Maliachova

    1   1st Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Meropi Dimitriadou

    1   1st Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Panagiota Triantafyllou

    1   1st Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Aris Slavakis

    2   Hormone Assay Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Ippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Athanasios Christoforidis

    1   1st Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Abstract

To assess total cortisol levels in children being evaluating for short stature with normal cortisol reserve and to correlate this response to clinical and laboratory data. Children assessed with glucagon test in our department were recruited in this study retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were: i) age>1 year, ii) absence of chronic illness or medication interfering with ACTH-cortisol axis, iii) GH stimulation levels>3ng/mL at least in one provocation test (glucagon or clonidine), iv) absence of multiple pituitary growth hormone deficiencies, v) normal short Synacthen test in cases of low cortisol response in glucagon test.Two hundred and thirty-seven subjects (160 males, 67.5%) with a mean age of 9.02±3.19 years, were finally included in the analysis. Cortisol peak levels but not cortisol AUC were significantly increased in females compared to males (26.83±7.31 μg/dl vs. 24.04±7.20 μg/dl). When linear correlations were studied, both cortisol peak levels and cortisol AUC were linearly but inversely correlated to age (r=−0.234, p<0.001 and r=−0.315, p<0.001, respectively). Finally, cortisol AUC was inversely correlated to weight Z-scores (r=−0.160, p=0.014). When our analysis was limited only to subjects with intact GH response (GH peak> 7 ng/mL), age was still inversely correlated to cortisol AUC (r=−0.312, p<0.001), and cortisol AUC was linearly correlated to GH AUC assessed with clonidine test (r=0.223, p=0.013). Girls, younger and thinner children exhibit higher cortisol response to glucagon test.

Key words

cortisol - glucagon stimulation test - growth hormone - clonidine stimulation test

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 16 July 2019

Accepted: 17 October 2019

Article published online:
19 November 2019

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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